Kansai Thru Pass sample itineraries

1 to 3 days
There are lots of NON JR trains in Kansai. Most of them can be taken by Kansai Thru Pass.
There are lots of NON JR trains in Kansai. Most of them can be taken by Kansai Thru Pass.
There are lots of NON JR trains in Kansai. Most of them can be taken by Kansai Thru Pass.

If you visit Osaka and make some day trips to outside Osaka, such as Kyoto, Nara, Kobe, Kansai Thru Pass is a good deal. But as I explained about this pass on the post, How to use Kansai Thru Pass. Compare pass and single fare, you have to make many train and/or bus trips. And I compared a regular fare and the price of pass in the link above. But it may be complicated for you. You may be overwhelmed.

I will show you some sample itineraries by using Kansai Thru Pass in this post. I hope this post let you understand this pass easier.

Ride a train/bus for 2,000 yen worth or more in one day

The price of pass is 4,000 yen for 2-day and 5,200 yen for 3-day. You have to make the worth at least 2,000 yen value per day (1,740 yen per day for 3-day pass) by making train trips, bus trips and/or getting discount at attraction. Otherwise you cannot make the worth of the pass.

All following itineraries require 1,800 yen total fare or more. You will get a discount at many attractions. If you can pick two or three itineraries to combine and you will get the worth of Kansai Thru Pass.

In all sample itineraries, departure time is around 9:00 am. Of course you can start earlier if you want. But some attractions open around 10:00 am. Please check the hours of the attractions that you want to visit when you make your trip plan.

Himeji, Kobe and Tarumi

Of course, spring is a good season to visit Himeji castle. ©JNTO
Of course, spring is a good season to visit Himeji castle. ©JNTO

If you go to Himeji and Kobe in one day, this pass gives you a great deal.

Visit Mitsui Outlet Park Marine Pia Kobe

Depart from Namaba : Namba 09:10 (Hanshin train) 09:30 Amagasaki 09:36 (Hanshin train) 10:27 Sanyo Tarumi (840 yen)
Depart from Umeda : Umeda 09:27 (Hanshin train) 10:27 Sanyo Tarumi (750 yen)

You can skip this place if you are not a shopping spree. The reason why I put it in this itinerary is that the trip is too long if we go to Himeji directly by Hanshin and Sanyo railways.

But you can see the world longest suspension bridge, Akashi Ohashi bridge here. And you can shop and eat here. I think it is nice place to take a break. It is only 9 minutes away from the station by foot. If you skip this spot, you can spend more time at Kobe or Himeji. You can stop by there on the way to Kobe from Himeji as the lunch break.

Himeji Castle and the lunch break.

Sanyo Tarumi 12:00 (Sanyo train) 12:39 Sanyo Himeji (740 yen)

You can get 20% off for Himeji Castle admission by Kansai Thru Pass. Himeji Castle is about 20 minutes away from the station. You can walk but it is too long, you can take a bus. But the bus fare is not covered by Kansai Thru Pass.

Please see the post below to find more information about Himeji.

Visit Kobe

Sanyo Himeji 15:04 (Sanyo train) 16:08 Sannomiya (Walk) Sannoiya Hanadokeimae 16:20 (Kobe subway) 16:24 (940 yen + 200 yen = 1140 yen)

You can enjoy Kobe port cruise if you want. You can get a discount for cruise and Kobe Port tower. You can have a dinner at Kobe before heading back to Osaka.

To Namba : Sannomiya 20:11 (Hanshin train) 20:34 Amagasaki 20:39 (Hanshin) 20:59 Namba (400 yen)
To Umeda : 20:11 (Hanshin train) 20:42 Umeda (310 yen)

Total fare is 3120 yen from/to Namba and 2940 yen from/to Umeda.

Kobe and Arima hot springs

Taiko-hashi bridge in Arima hot springs. If you want to stay, it is a nice place too. © Kobe Convention & Visitors Association/© JNTO
Taiko-hashi bridge in Arima hot springs. If you want to stay, it is a nice place too. © Kobe Convention & Visitors Association/© JNTO

Arima hot springs is one of most three famous hot springs and one of the three oldest hot springs. Actually it is most accessible hot springs from Osaka. You can stay there but I put this hot springs as day use in this trip.

Visit Arima hot springs, Kinnoyu (Gold springs), Ginnoyu (Silver springs) or Taiko no Yu.

From Umeda : Umeda 09:03 (Hanshin train) 09:36 Sannomiya 09:49 (Kobe subway and Hokushin Kyuko) 10:00 Tanigami 10:06 (Kobe railway train) 10:17 Arimaguchi 10:19 (Kobe railway train) 10:23 Arima Onsen (310 yen + 900 yen = 1210 yen)
From Namba : Namba 08:45 (Hanshin train) 09:02 Amagasaki 09:07 (Hanshin train) 09:32 Sannomiya 09:49 (Kobe subway and Hokushin Kyuko) 10:00 Tanigami 10:06 (Kobe railway train) 10:17 Arimaguchi 10:19 (Kobe railway train) 10:23 Arima Onsen (400 yen + 900 yen = 1300 yen)

You can get discount to go these hot springs. These hot springs open from 9:00 am. By the way, Taiko is a name of title of Hideyoshi Toyotomi.

If you want to have more relaxation, you can use daily plan of high end hotels. Arima Grand Hotel has daily hot springs use plan around 4,000 yen.

Visit Kobe

Arima Onsen 14:09 (Kobe railway train) 14:13 Arimaguchi 14:29 (Kobe railway train) 14:39 14:41 Tanigami (Hokushin Kyuko and Kobe subway) 14:51 Sannomiya (900 yen)

You can visit anywhere in Kobe you want, such as Kitano, Kobe port.

To Namba : Sannomiya 20:11 (Hanshin train) 20:34 Amagasaki 20:39 (Hanshin) 20:59 Namba (400 yen)
To Umeda : 20:11 (Hanshin train) 20:42 Umeda (310 yen)

Total fare is 2600 yen from/to Namba and 2420 yen from/to Umeda.

Kyoto Highlight

Autumn in Arashiyama is breathtaking. ©Akira Okada/©JNTO
Autumn in Arashiyama is breathtaking. ©Akira Okada/©JNTO

You can complete most of Kyoto Must-See spots in one day!

From Namba : Namba 08:59 (Osaka subway Midosuji line) 09:05 Yodoyabashi 09:10 (Keihan Ltd Exp train) 09:58 Shichijo (200 yen + 600 yen = 800 yen)
From Umeda : Umeda 9:01 (Osaka subway Midosuji line) 09:05 Yodoyabashi 09:10 (Keihan Ltd Exp train) 09:58 Shichijo (200 yen + 600 yen = 800 yen)

Shichijo, Kiyomizu-Gojo, Gion-Shijo and Sanjo are the gateway station to Higashiyama area. There are tons of spots there. It is impossible to visit most of spots in half day. If you really want to see this area, don’t try this itinerary. Actually even one full day is not enough to cover most of spot.
In this itinerary, I assume to visit Sanjusankendo (三十三間堂), Kiyomizudera temple (清水寺) and Yasaka Jinja shrine (八坂神社).

Kawaramachi 13:05 (Hankyu train) 13:06 Karasuma 13:09 (Kyoto subway Karasuma line) 13:19 Kitaoji (Kyoto bus 12-20 minutes) Kinkakujido (金閣寺道) bus stop (150 yen + 250 yen + 220 yen = 620 yen)

Actually Kyoto city bus #12 goes straight to Kinkakujido bus stop from Kawaramachi or Sanjo-Keihan. This is the easiest. But it is affected by traffic congestion. When you explore Kyoto, try to use trains as much as possible. That is a key to save your time. From Kitaoji to Kinkakujido, you can take #101, #102 or M1. Bus comes every 10 to 15 minutes. Kikakuji temple is 5 minutes walk from bus stop.

Kikakujido (Kyoto city bus 5 minutes) Kitano-Hakubaicho 15:06 (Keifuku railway a.k.a. “Randen”) 15:17 Katabiranotsuji 15:25 (Keifuku railway a.k.a. “Randen”) 15:32 Arashiyama (220 yen + 200 yen = 420 yen)

Kitano-Hakubaisho station is only 3 bus stops away from Kikakujido. You can walk if you want. It takes about 20 minutes. Keifuku railway is a small local railway. It is like a street car.
In Arashiyama, you don’t have much time to visit temples and shrines. You can walk along Katsura river. And you may be able to ride Sagano sightseeing tram night train. But Sagano sightseeing train is not covered by Kansai Thru Pass.

Arashiyama 20:03 (Hankyu train) 20:11 Katsura 20:21 (Hankyu train) 20:55 Umeda 21:00 (Osaka subway Midosuji line) 21:08 Namba (390 yen. If you go to Namba, add 230 yen for subway)

If you have just round trip to Kyoto, it is not enough to use Kansai Thru Pass. But if you visit several places, this pass gives you a great deal.

Total fare is 2230 yen from/to Umeda and 2460 yen from/to Namba.

Nara and south Kyoto one day

There are a big number of Torii at Fushimi Inari shrine. ©Kyoto Convention Bureau /©JNTO
There are a big number of Torii at Fushimi Inari shrine. ©Kyoto Convention Bureau /©JNTO

If you visit only Nara, it is not enough to get 1800 yen worth. So I combine south Kyoto and Nara because it is the closet place from Nara.

From Namba : Osaka-Namba 09:01 (Kintetsu railway Rapid Express) 09:39 Kintetsu-Nara (540 yen)
From Umeda : Umeda 8:45 (Osaka subway Midosuji line) 08:54 Namba (walk) Osaka-Namba 09:01 (Kintetsu railway Rapid Express) 09:39 Kintetsu-Nara (230 yen + 540 yen = 770 yen)

Subway Namba station is very close to Kintetsu Osaka-Namba station. If you miss 9:01 train, next train comes in 10 minutes.

Most of places in Nara can be accessed by walk from the station. Please see the post, How to access to Nara by Japan Rail Pass. If you don’t use JR Pass, Kintetsu Railway is more convenient to get more details.

Nara 13:43 (Kintetsu railway Rapid Express) 14:24 Kintetsu-Tanbabashi (walk) Tanbabashi 14:33 (Keihan railway local train) 14:40 Fushimi-Inari (540 yen + 200 yen = 740 yen)

Kintetsu-Tanbabashi station is located at same place as Keihan’s Tanbabashi station. 9 minutes is way enough to transfer. Both stations are not big terminal stations. You cannot miss it.

Fushimi Inari shrine is 10 minutes away from the station.

Fushimi-Inari 15:39 (Keihan railway local train) 15:54 Chushojima 16:04 (Keihan train Uji line local train) 16:18 Uji (300 yen)

Uji 18:02 (Keihan railway Uji line local train) 18:16 Chushojima 18:21 (Keihan railwa Limited Express) 19:04 Yodoyabashi (Osaka subway Midousuji line 10 minutes ride) Namba or Umeda (400 yen + 200 yen = 600 yen)

Total fare is 2180 yen to/from Namba and 2410 yen to/from Umeda.

If you have more, you can go to Gion in Kyoto. After you finish Uji sightseeing, you can take the train to Gion-Shijo at Chushojima.

Uji 18:02 (Keihan railway Uji line local train) 18:16 Chushojima 18:21 (Keihan railwa Limited Express) 18:33 Gion-Shijo

You can enjoy dinner and walk in Kyoto if you want. The last train departs at 23:06 from Gion-Shijo. You can transfer subway at Yodoyabashi from this last train. You still have lots of time for Gion, Kyoto.

Yoshino. Recommended for cherry blossom season

Yoshino must be the best Sakura spot in Japan! ©NARA TOURISM FEDERATION/©JNTO
Yoshino must be the best Sakura spot in Japan! ©NARA TOURISM FEDERATION/©JNTO

Yoshino is located at south part of Nara. It is very famous as cherry blossom viewing spots. But the pass does not cover all part of the trip to Yoshino. You have to pay some extra to get there.

From Namba : Namba 08:56 (Osaka subway Midousuji line) 09:03 Tennoji (walk) Abenobashi 09:20 (Kintetsu railway Express train) 10:53 Yoshino (230 yen + 690 yen = 920 yen)
From Umeda : Umeda 08:47 (Osaka subway Midousuji line) 09:03 Tennoji (walk) Abenobashi 09:20 (Kintetsu railway Express train) 10:53 Yoshino (270 yen + 690 yen = 960 yen)

The pass cover the trip to Tsubosakayama station. It is still 50 minutes away from Yoshino. The extra fare is 420 yen for one way.

Once you arrive in Yoshino, you can enjoy as much as you want until the last train depart at 22:12.

Total fare is 1840 yen to/from Namba and 1920 yen to/from Umeda.
*Above fare is the worth that is covered by the pass. You need to pay another 840 yen on top.

Mt. Koya one day trip

There are lots of places to see in Mt. Koya. ©JNTO
There are lots of places to see in Mt. Koya. ©JNTO

If you want to visit Mt. Koya as day trip, Kansai Thru Pass is one of the choice. But if you want to stay in Mt. Koya, Koyasan World Heritage Ticket is much better choice.

From Namba : Namba 09:01 (Osaka subway Midousuji line) 09:49 Hashimoto 09:54 (Kintetsu railway Express train) 10:31 Gokurakubashi 10:36 (Cabel car) 10:41 Koyasan (850 yen + 380 yen = 1230 yen)
From Umeda : Umeda 08:47 (Osaka subway Midousuji line) 08:56 Namba 09:01 (Osaka subway Midousuji line) 09:49 Hashimoto 09:54 (Kintetsu railway Express train) 10:31 Gokurakubashi 10:36 (Cabel car) 10:41 Koyasan (230 yen + 850 yen + 380 yen = 1460 yen)

You can get the worth easily to have just return trip to Mt. Koya. And also you can take a bus and get some discount at several temples there.

Total fare is 2460 yen to/from Namba and 2920 yen to/from Umeda.

Comments

  1. Naomi Lee says:

    Dear. Mr Takeshi

    My family will spend 5 days 4 nights in Osaka. We intend to buy the 3 day Kansai thru pass and Osaka one day subway pass .We would like to have your advice whether we would use the Kansai thru pass and Osaka subway pass in the following way:

    Day 1 (4 Dec)
    Arrival at Kansai International Airport. Use the Kansai through pass to travel from airport to our accommodation at Nippombashi. After leaving our luggage at our hotel, we will travel to Expo City , Umeda, Shinsabashi and Namba before returning to hotel.

    Day 2 (5 Dec)
    Travel to Himeji and Kobe by using Kansai thru pass.

    Day 3 (6 Dec)
    Sightseeing in Osaka by purchasing one day subway pass

    Day 4 (7 Dec)
    Universal Studios

    Day 5 (8 Dec)
    Travel to Rinku town from Nippombashi to do shopping at Rinku premium outlet and then to Kansai airport by using Kansai thru pass.

    We look forward to receiving your advice. Thanks

  2. Margaux says:

    Hi Takeshi,

    We have 7 day trip from Tokyo (Narita) – Osaka (Kansai), and I would like to ask if the 7 day JR pass will pay off with below itinerary:

    Day 1-2 – Tokyo (Stay at Roppongi)
    Day 3 – Kyoto (visit Arashiyama, Kinkakuji, Fushimi Inari). We will be staying in Osaka (near Shin-Imamiya)
    Day 4 – Kyoto
    Day 5 – Himeji, Mt. Koya or Nara
    Day 6 – USJ
    Day 7 – Day trip Osaka

    Or the respective city passes will work? I’m thinking to buy the metro subway pass in Tokyo for 2 days. Buy 3 day Kansai thru pass for Day 3-5 itinerary. Then the USJ pass for Day 6 and the one day amazing pass for Day 7? Also, if I’m going to buy the single journey ticket from Tokyo – Kansai airport, will it work with the above itinerary?

    Appreciate your help on this.

    Thanks!

  3. Peggy Loh says:

    Hi,

    Need your advice for transporation

    I am staying nearby Temmabashi Station.

    1. From Kansai Airport to Temmabashi Station.
    2. From Temmabashi station to USJ
    3. From Temmabashi to Kyoto
    4. From Temmabashi to Nara/Arashiyama
    5. From Temmabashi station to Kaiyukan Aquarium
    6. From Temmabashi station to Kansai Airport.

    Thank you.

  4. SYAFIQAH says:

    hello, my friends and would like to come to kyoto this winter..can i know if we use kansai thru pass,
    1)which station that covered by KTP and it was the nearest stop to arashiyama.and how much cost for return from the station to arashiyama?
    2)is there additional cost that we must to pay if we want to go to bamboo grove and walk around arashiyama?i mean there is another pass or bus to go there?because i can’t imagine how big is arashiyama..i’m really sorry for this question
    3)kinkakuji temple round is include in KTP
    4)can we use KTP to stop at nishikyogoku station because we stay there

  5. suriahagumi says:

    Greeting Takeshi…

    i would like to ask your advice on what pass should i take..
    my current itinerary probably like this
    day 1 to day 4 i will be staying at Chuoku, Osaka
    day 5 to day 9 will be staying at yokohama area i guess

    Day 1 (05/03)
    – Arrival late night at Osaka Airport
    – Staying at airport

    Day 2 (06/03)
    o Check in at Chuo-ku
    – Sight-seeing to Kyoto and Nara (day Trip)

    Day 3 (07/03)
    – Aquarium
    – Sight-seeing at Osaka

    Day 4 (08/03)
    – USJ
    – Sight-seeing outside USJ
    – Take overnight bus to YOKOHAMA

    Day 5 (09/03)
    – Sight-seeing around YOKOHAMA
    – Check in at Iijima

    Day 6 (10/03)
    – Doraemon museum
    – Sight-seeing at Southern Tokyo
    – Odaiba/Asakusa

    Day 7 (11/03)
    – Giblin Studio
    – Sight-seeing at central Tokyo

    Day 8 (12/03)
    – Tsukiji market
    – Sight-seeing Northern Tokyo
    – Central Tokyo

    Day 9 (13/03)
    – Check out
    o Luggage locker
    – Sightseeing at Central Tokyo
    – Head to Haneda Airport (latenight depart)

    what pass you think i should take..cause i kinda hard to understand the passes..
    thank you so much for you help..

  6. Zara says:

    Hi Takashi
    I read your article with great interest. The more I read, the more unsure I become. Kindly assist me in confirming the passes I ought to buy.
    I intend to buy the 7-day JR pass but I will use it for my Kyoto to Takayama to Hiroshima includes Mijiyama.
    I intent to buy the Haruka n ICOCA to enter Kyoto n use it go round Kyoto (possible?) and use it to return to KIX from Osaka.
    From Hiroshima, I intend to go Osaka n make day trips to Nara and Kobe. I also intend to go to Bamboo Forest Light-up.
    Here I m lost as to do the next step and wonder if my earlier passes are good for my journey.
    My plan:
    29 Nov to 2 Dec: Kyoto
    2 Dec to 6 Dec: Takayama & Shiragawa (day trip tour)
    6 Dec to 10 Dec: Hiroshima & Mijiyama
    10 Dec to Osaka: 13 Dec: Osaka, Nara & Kobe (Day trip)
    I am also looking at buses, as last resort.
    Appreciate your advice.

  7. TANIA says:

    In February (5 adults) we will be flying to Osaka and will be staying for 4 nights and then onto Hakuba for 5 nights. We want to:
    Day 1: Sight seeing in around Osaka (day after we fly in)
    Day 2: Go to Kyoto
    Day 3: Go to Hiroshima
    Day 4: Going to Hakuba by train to Nagano
    What is the best way we can get around with trains. Is there a pass that we can use to cut the costs down. We were going to get a 7 day JR pass as we thought this could cover the cost of the train to and from Nagano, but we need a cheap pass to cover the other days. What do you recommend? It seems a waste to have a 7 day pass whilst we are at the snow resort but it seems it will be cheaper this way for us as it will be $170.00 each up and back. We are really stuck.

  8. Princess says:

    Hi, i will be travelling alone on november and i cannot choose which pass should i take. Help me please?
    Here’s my itinerary

    Day1: Arrive at KIX around 12pm
    Airport to nankai-namba where my hotel is located
    i wanted to visit osaka castle after i check in at the hotel and visit umeda sky building and shinsaibashi at night.
    Day2: USJ and Tempozan Ferris Wheel
    Day3: Shintennoji temple and side trip to kyoto. i want to visit ginkaku-ji, fushima inari, gion, arashiyama and kyoto tower. Is it possible? haha
    Day4: Nankai-namba to KIX

  9. Teresa says:

    Hi Takeshi San,

    We have a 14 days return trip in Osaka, our flight reaches about 4pm so I thought we could stay a night in Osaka and visit Kyoto for about 5 days (is it enough?) We would like to include himeiji castle and Nara, Kobe as well. I hope you can help out with our itinerary and which pass would suit us the best? We don’t mind extending our stay in Kyoto, whichever is more convenient to visit the most of Kansai, and we will leave last few days for Osaka, thank you!!!!

  10. Dimitri says:

    Hi Takeshi san,

    Could I very kindly seek your advice in what passes i should best take,
    JR kansai Hiroshima area pass or kansai thru pass because the thru pass not include Hiroshima or Iga Ueno but maybe it is just more intersting to buy single fare to those 2 places since the thru pass has free subway and busses in Osaka and Kyoto and best connection to Mt. Koya.
    Also to buy a one way ticket on my trip back to Tokyo by train is a better option then a 7 day JR pass to include evreything i just mentioned to visit above?
    Day 1: flight from Tokyo to arrive Osaka Itami airprort ( i arrive at 7 PM on Itami airport so not wise to use the first day of a pass i was thinking, so pay single fair or another pass? )
    Day 2: Osaka
    Day 3: Osaka-Nara-Kyoto
    Day 4: Kyoto
    Day 5: from Osaka or Kyoto to Homiji and Hiroshima
    Day 6: Hiroshima back to Osaka
    Day 7: day trip Mt. Koya
    Day 8: day trip Iga ueno
    Day 9: Osaka – Tokyo by train
    Day 9 till 12: Tokyo

    Thank you so much in advance for your advice!

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